Pandemic stress in pregnant mothers can affect the anxiety areas of babies’ brains

A crucial part of the brain linked to risks for anxiety later in life – the left amygdala – was significantly smaller in volume in babies born to mothers who reported stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to research. a newspaper published in JAMA network opened.

The right hippocampus, which controls spatial, visual and verbal memories, and white matter were also reduced in children whose mothers reported stress.

The Children’s National Hospital research provides mounting evidence that children affected by the pandemic, even those far too young to understand it, require ongoing developmental or mental health evaluations later in life.

“Looking ahead, we want to use this information – and studies with similar findings – to empower pregnant mothers to reach out for support to relieve their stress, especially in the event of a new global health crisis,” said Nickie Andescavage, MD, neonatologist and director. researcher at the Center for Prenatal, Neonatal & Maternal Health Research.

“We also want to ensure that babies born during COVID-19 receive the services they need in life if they develop anxiety or other mental health disorders.”

Researchers at the center used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to compare the brains of 103 babies born between 2014 and 2019 before the pandemic with 59 babies born between 2020 and 2022. Mothers who had COVID-19 or other complications during their pregnancy were ruled out. The babies underwent MRI imaging in utero and again shortly after delivery.

The mothers were assessed for stress and anxiety, using the Spielberger State-Train Anxiety Inventory and other evidence-based scoring measures. Before the pandemic, 21% of mothers reported increased symptoms of anxiety; in the pandemic cohort, that number rose to almost 62%.

Their babies’ brains were also changed, as regions commonly thought to control emotions and fear showed smaller volumes on MRI imaging. Given the global impact of the pandemic and the universal reports of mental distress worldwide, the potential impact of these findings could impact an entire generation of children born during the pandemic. The team is only just beginning to unravel its medical significance.

Catherine Limperopoulos, Ph.D., director of the Center for Prenatal, Neonatal & Maternal Health Research, said understanding the impact of stress is essential for supporting the healthy development of young children. Her center is currently conducting studies to unravel the role of stress in prenatal development and investigate its long-term effects on development, including cognition, behavior and mental health.

“We all know that being pregnant can be quite stressful, and there are certain times of collective stress that can provide us with windows into understanding how the body and mind cope,” said Dr. Limperopoulos. “At our center we care deeply about the health of mothers and babies, and our researchers plan to continue investigating the role of stress in development to continue collecting data that shows mental health should be a greater priority .”